Though Thailand has numerous islands, for a lot of vacationers, all of it comes all the way down to Phuket vs Koh Samui. These usually are not solely Thailand’s largest islands, but in addition its hottest, albeit for very totally different causes.
Whereas Phuket is understood primarily for its massive resorts, accessibility and number of nightlife, Samui’s popularity has alternated between its previous historical past as a castaway idyll and the extra upscale ambiance that defines it within the modern-day. Many vacationers go to each of those islands, in the event that they’re spending lengthy sufficient in Thailand to take action.
In the event you’re taking a shorter journey, nevertheless, the excellent news is that I’m right here to delineate Phuket and Samui for you. The higher information? Irrespective of which alternative you find yourself making, each journey to Thailand is life-changing.
How I Bought to Know Phuket and Samui
I first visited Phuket greater than 5 years in the past, as a day tour from neighboring Phang Nga province the place I used to be visiting a buddy. Whereas I loved the gorgeous panorama view from the Massive Buddha viewpoint, I typically discovered Phuket’s seashores missing; your complete Patong space left a foul style in my mouth, for each how built-up it was, in addition to the seedy people who hung on the market.
Samui, in the meantime, was an island I found proper earlier than Covid-19 shut down the world. Though I discovered areas of Samui like Chaweng and Bo Phut to be too busy for my style, the island’s lush inside and seashores akin to Lamai and Nathon evoked the castaway mythology Samui appears to signify for a lot of vacationers of bygone eras, and in addition many older Thais. I returned to each islands instantly post-pandemic, and was shocked by how way more I loved Phuket specifically, though I believe this was merely due to how Thailand-starved I’d turn into.
Methods to Evaluate Samui and Phuket
Seashores
I’ll be frank: Most of Phuket’s seashores are common at greatest. That is very true alongside the island’s southwest coast, from Kamala all the way down to Patong, Karon and Kata. Whereas Nai Harn Seashore close to the southern tip of the island is considerably extra palatable, no Phuket seashore compares to Samui solar and surf spots like Chaweng, Lamai and even Bo Phut, despite the fact that the latter is best for photos than swimming or sunbathing.
If eating and drinks are excessive in your record of priorities when deciding between Phuket or Samui, each islands ought to fulfill you. Whereas Phuket could have extra choices quantitatively talking, and unfold out in additional areas (I notably like extra conventional markets and eating places in Phuket City), Samui gives loads of eating places and bars, particularly in Chaweng. On this situation, the competition between Phuket and Samui is just about a draw.
Getting there and round
Though each Phuket and Koh Samui get pleasure from frequent flights from Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand, it’s cheaper and extra handy to achieve Phuket; “boutique” airline Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on flights to Samui Airport. Alternatively, whereas Phuket ought to theoretically have extra developed infrastructure, taxi mafias on each islands imply that getting round (assuming you don’t have your individual automobile or motorcycle) is way more costly than it needs to be.
Lodging
As was the case with meals and beverage, the selection between Samui or Phuket is just about even on the subject of lodges. In Samui, as an example, you may select between upscale villas like Pawanthorn Samui and extra spartan lodging akin to Villa Tanamera. In Phuket, then again, vacationers who don’t need a high-end seashore resort akin to The Nai Harn would possibly discover themselves extra at house within the Sino-Portuguese shophouse through which you discover Phuket City’s Casa Blanca Boutique Lodge.
Quantitatively talking, Phuket gives extra alternatives for day journeys and onward excursions. These embody close by islands akin to Koh Racha and the Koh Similan archipelago, in addition to extra distant ones just like the Koh Yao and Koh Phi Phi island chains. In Samui, in the meantime, your principal onward choices are Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, which I really choose to most Phuket day journeys, notably should you additionally embody a visit to idyllic Ang Thong Marine Park.
How Many Days Do You Want in Phuket and Koh Samui?
Phuket is bigger and has extra points of interest than Koh Samui, however I typically advocate spending 3-5 days in each. That is due to how I method both island. In Samui, I have a tendency to search out 1-2 locations to hunker down and luxuriate in myself, whereas I typically take a extra exploratory method to spending time in Phuket—I’m hardly ever in the identical spot for greater than a day.
Approaching Samui vs Phuket as gateways versus self-contained locations, in the meantime, I’d most likely say per week in every is suitable. Within the former, this lets you spend a pair nights every on both Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan. In Phuket, in the meantime, having per week within the space might imply the chance to journey onward to Koh Yao or Koh Phi Phi, and even all the best way throughout the water to Krabi.
Different FAQ About Samui and Phuket
Is Phuket or Koh Samui higher?
Personally, I discover Samui extra pleasurable than Phuket because of its higher seashores and barely extra relaxed, rural vibe. Alternatively, many vacationers choose Phuket as a result of it’s extra accessible and has a better number of lodges and resorts. Finally, selecting between Samui and Phuket can be a matter of figuring out the precedence of your journey to Thailand and squaring that with the truth of both island.
Is Phuket or Koh Samui cheaper?
If I’m trustworthy, each Phuket and Samui are fairly costly as islands in Thailand go. Because of their recognition, lodging in each islands is dear; taxi mafias imply you’re going to pay 300-400 Baht for a one-way journey on both island. In all, you’ll be fortunate to go to Samui or Phuket with out spending no less than 100 USD per particular person, per day, and doubtless much more.
What’s the greatest island to remain in Thailand?
My favourite seashore vacation spot in Thailand shouldn’t be an island in any respect, however slightly Railay Seashore in Krabi. This, in fact, is making an allowance for different issues in addition to the seashore (or island, because it had been) itself. If we’re simply speaking concerning the high quality and great thing about the sand and water, the Similan Islands (that are simply off the coast of Phang Nga province) are house to the perfect seashores and most beautiful island surroundings in Thailand.
The Backside Line
I hope I’ve helped making the not possible alternative between Phuket and Koh Samui a bit simpler for you. Whereas each these islands are rightly well-known in their very own proper, most vacationers discover they extremely choose one island to a different. I personally give Samui the slight edge because of higher seashores and fewer sleaze, though Phuket’s accessibility makes it a winner for a lot of vacationers, despite its much less fascinating traits.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications akin to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Day by day Hell, offers a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric points of life as a traveler.
